Library Action: Good news on a cold day

Submitted by Joshua Gay on February 12, 2008 - 9:28am

The snow held off at our action on the Boston
Public Library (BPL) this past Saturday. Tourists and Bostonians alike gave expressions of shock when they learned the truth about the way Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology works, and revealed
disappointment in the BPL's support and endorsement of nefarious technology that requires patrons to hand over control of their computers to corporations like Microsoft and Adobe in order to use much of the library's digital collection. The support was encouraging. All of us at DefectiveByDesign.org extend our gratitude to the local
DRM Elimination Crew members, who gave out hundreds of flyers and worked hard talking with reporters, patrons, and passers-by. Engraved on the archway door of the library is the phrase "FREE-TO-ALL" -- we hope that over the coming months the library will take steps to better
live up to these words.

There is reason to think they will: We've been contacted by the BPL about making arrangements to discuss the problems with DRM and what might be done about it. We'll keep you posted.